Francesco Totti says Roma’s planned Stadio della Roma will be a ‘modern day Colosseum’ as messages of support for the project flood in.
The Giallorossi hosted a media event on Monday to mark the submission of the master site dossier for the new stadium, which is hoped to be completed by 2017-18.
The €1.1 billion project is one of the most ambitious construction projects Italian football has ever seen and will see the club move out of the Stadio Olimpico, which they currently share with rivals Lazio.
Francesco Totti says Roma’s planned Stadio della Roma will be a ‘modern day Colosseum’ as messages of support for the project flood in.
The Giallorossi hosted a media event on Monday to mark the submission of the master site dossier for the new stadium, which is hoped to be completed by 2017-18.
The €1.1 billion project is one of the most ambitious construction projects Italian football has ever seen and will see the club move out of the Stadio Olimpico, which they currently share with rivals Lazio.
The AS Roma official website published messages of support that the club have received from a number of names across the football world.
“Roma will have a stadium that represents the city across the world, just as our history deserves,” said club captain Totti.
“It will be our modern day Colosseum, where all of our fans and athletes will be able to enjoy the spectacle among cutting-edge facilities that will make the match the climax of a day of sport and entertainment.
“It will be for everyone, and especially for children, who have every right to enjoy our matches in the best way possible.
“Rome – our city – deserves such a stadium. It will be our home and all of us will be Roma. Our jersey is a second skin to us and we love this club because it is unique in the world. With Roma in my heart…”
Fellow Giallorossi players Daniele De Rossi and Radja Nainggolan were also amongst those offering messages of support and enthusiasm.
“This is a huge step forward for the city of Rome and Roma fans especially. Our biggest hope is that we can play there as soon as possible,” said De Rossi.
“I'm sure it will be a fantastic stadium where families will be able to go throughout the week and where we'll have an even bigger advantage over our opponents. It's a wonderful project for the football team for a wonderful city," Nainggolan added.
Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, who saw his club lead the way by building the Juventus Stadium, was also keen to offer a good luck message to Pallotta.
“Jim, a very strong good luck message! Yours is a very ambitious project that will enrich not only AS Roma but the whole of Italian football. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Juve win there!”
Michele Uva, general manager of the Italian Football Federation, also gave his backing to a project he believes will benefit all Italian sport.
“The right of a fan is to have a home for their passion and to build the future, it is necessary to first dream and then take action,” he said.
“The presentation of the Stadio della Roma technical project is the crystallisation of a dream for the future of the club, the fans, the city and the Italian sports system as a whole.
“Economic development, high social engagement and increased safety are the strong points of this investment, which is capable of projecting Roma into a new international dimension, as it deserves.
“I would like to congratulate president Pallotta, his able staff and all of the fans and send my best wishes for the new era that starts today. I’m with you.”